Top Wall Colors

Gray

• Pale, cool, neutral colors frequently dominate color palettes for living spaces. Gray is a versatile neutral, available in a warm range of tones, such as tints of dove, and in a cool range of tones, such as tints of pewter. Grey is a natural complement to warm wood tones and works well with most accent colors, including intense hues and pastels. When paired with white trim, it exudes a crisp stylishness that is appealing with many types of furnishings.

Pale Blue

• Blue remains the most favored color in Western cultures, and pale tints of low intensity blue work successfully as a neutral. Pale blue will harmonize with various other tones of blue in a monochromatic (single color) color scheme; with tints of its complement orange (the color directly opposite on the color wheel) in a complementary color scheme; and with tones of green or violet (flanking colors on the color wheel) in an analogous color scheme.

Gold and Apricot

• Tints of a low intensity gold or apricot create a softly glowing warm neutral backdrop. Raising the strength of the color on an accent wall, or on an architectural detail, releases positive energy to make a space sparkle. Gold or apricot tints partner with warm or cool colors to form satisfying color palettes suitable for many décors.

Green

• Green is a color associated with nature and the environment. In low-intensity tones, such as celadon or olive, it complements warm accent colors, much like green foliage sets off a bouquet of flowers. Green is nature’s neutral; it can be tinted up to nearly white, or shaded down to inky black. Paired with a complementary tone of red, green adds excitement and beauty to any living space.

Violet

• Violet is an often-overlooked secondary color that serves as a rich neutral when its intensity is lowered by adding its complement yellow. Violets range from blue-violets to red-violets; they are intriguing when used as deep color accents, and romantic when tinted to pastel tones.

Tan

• Tan is a tint of brown, and brown is formed by combining equal parts of the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow. Tints are formed by adding white to the base color. Because it is a mix of virtually all of the colors, tan is a versatile tone. It unobtrusively warms a space, yet serves as a backdrop for virtually any other color on the floor or in the furnishings and accessories.